Icons like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Booker T. Washington and Harriet Tubman have been the staples of African-American history for decades. They paved the way so that blacks today would have freedom and equal opportunity for success, jobs and education.

Shore area residents and community groups say the following seven people embody the vision of historical black leaders and are an inspiration to those around them. These young, black professionals are seizing opportunities, leading their respective communities and planting seeds so that those after them can also be successful.

Derrick Griggs

Derrick Griggs moved back to the Asbury Park-Neptune community in 2012 because he wanted to give back to the community that raised him.

Griggs, 38, a 1993 Asbury Park High School graduate, had obtained an MBA from Rutgers University and worked in finance in northern New Jersey before returning to Monmouth County.

He is now the chief operating officer of the Eatontown-based Affordable Housing Alliance. Under his leadership the alliance has built 21 housing units in Eatontown for superstorm Sandy victims, 10 housing units in Millstone for disabled people and has administered funding to at least 400 people through the Sandy Homeowner Renter/Assistance Program (SHRAP).

Griggs said he is advocating for more affordable housing in Asbury Park’s waterfront area, better relations between the east and west side of the city and a higher performing school district.

Griggs lives in Neptune with his wife and two children but has aspirations to move to Asbury Park and run for political office.

“I know that I can add value to the city,” Griggs said. “That’s my hometown, I want to see it get better; it’s so frustrating to see the lack of progress.”